Apparatus, system, and method for monitoring flow in a passage

ABSTRACT

An assembly for sensing corrosion of a member is disclosed. The assembly has a housing having a bottom surface that is external-surface-disposable on the member, and a sensor array disposed at least partially in the housing, the sensor array including a first sensor and a second sensor. The first sensor and the second sensor are magnetoresistive sensors. The first sensor is disposed at up to 3 centimeters from the bottom surface of the housing. The second sensor is disposed at between 1 inch and 8 inches from the bottom surface of the housing.

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS

This application claims the benefit of U.S. Nonprovisional patentapplication Ser. No. 15/901,717 filed on Feb. 21, 2018, which is herebyincorporated by reference in its entirety.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present disclosure generally relates to an apparatus, system, andmethod for monitoring flow in a passage, and more particularly to anapparatus, system, and method for monitoring flow of material through apassage of a member.

BACKGROUND

Fluid-carrying structures such as oil pipelines transport fluid (e.g.,refined oil or crude oil) over any desired distance (e.g., relativelyshort distances within industrial facilities and/or relatively longdistances of hundreds of miles). Pipelines are typically constructedfrom structural materials such as steel that may be subject to corrosionand material failure. For example, structural damage and failures areestimated to cost the pipeline industry tens of billions of U.S. dollarseach year. Additionally, leaks and spills caused by structural damageand failure of pipelines cause spills that significantly damage theenvironment.

Varying conventional approaches are used to monitor fluid-carryingstructures such as pipelines to attempt to detect potential failuresbefore they occur and cause environmental and financial damage. Forexample, some monitoring technologies are inserted through pipelinewalls. Although monitoring data may be obtained using thesetechnologies, the penetration involved with inserting the monitoringtechnology may itself cause leaks to pipelines. Other approaches utilizeradioactive materials (e.g., Uranium, Cesium, Americium, and/orPlutonium) in monitoring pipelines, which are harmful to personnel andthe environment. Accordingly, conventional techniques do not provide asafe technique for effectively monitoring flow in passages such aspipelines that avoid damage to the structures being monitored and thesurrounding environment.

The exemplary disclosed apparatus, system, and method are directed toovercoming one or more of the shortcomings set forth above and/or otherdeficiencies in existing technology.

SUMMARY OF THE DISCLOSURE

In one exemplary aspect, the present disclosure is directed to anassembly for sensing flow material in a passage of a member. Theassembly includes a housing, a communication device disposed at leastpartially in the housing, and a controller disposed at least partiallyin the housing. The assembly also includes a sensor array disposed atleast partially in the housing, and an external-surface-mountingattachment portion configured to non-intrusively attach the assembly toa surface. The sensor array includes a pressure sensor, a densitysensor, a corrosion sensor, and a vibration sensor. The controllercontrols the communication device to transmit sensed data collected bythe sensor array at a frequency of between about one transmission persecond and about fifty transmissions per second.

In another aspect, the present disclosure is directed to a method. Themethod includes providing a non-invasive sensor array at a surface of amember transporting flow material, using the non-invasive sensor arrayto sense a pressure of the flow material, a density of the flowmaterial, and a temperature of the flow material, and wirelesslytransmitting data of the sensed pressure, the sensed density, and thesensed temperature to a flow monitoring module includingcomputer-executable code stored in non-volatile memory. The method alsoincludes using artificial intelligence to perform predictive analysisbased on the sensed pressure, the sensed density, and the sensedtemperature, and wirelessly transmitting result data of the predictiveanalysis to a user interface

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

FIG. 1 is a schematic view of an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 2 is a schematic view of an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 3 is a schematic view of an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 4 is a schematic view of an exemplary embodiment of the presentinvention;

FIG. 5 illustrates an exemplary process for manufacturing the exemplaryapparatus;

FIG. 6 is a schematic illustration of an exemplary computing device, inaccordance with at least some exemplary embodiments of the presentdisclosure;

FIG. 7 is a schematic illustration of an exemplary network, inaccordance with at least some exemplary embodiments of the presentdisclosure; and

FIG. 8 illustrates a schematic view of an exemplary embodiment of thepresent invention.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION AND INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY

FIG. 1 illustrates an exemplary system 300 for monitoring a passagesystem 305. For example, system 300 may be any suitable system formonitoring flow in a passage. For example, system 300 may be used in anyapplication for monitoring flow of material through a passage of amember (e.g., an elongated member). For example, system 300 may be anysuitable system for monitoring a flow carried in a passage of astructural member. For example, system 300 may be any suitable systemfor pipeline monitoring (e.g., when passage system 305 is a pipelinesuch as, e.g., an oil pipeline, a natural gas pipeline, any pipelinetransporting fossil fuels, a water pipeline, a waste or wastewaterpipeline, a pipeline transporting oxygen, carbon dioxide, air,chemicals, and/or any other fluid material such as gaseous fluid orliquid fluid material). For example, system 300 may include a sensorassembly that may be a pipeline monitoring assembly (e.g., a refined oilpipeline monitoring assembly or a crude oil pipeline monitoringassembly) configured to be externally attached to a pipeline. Also forexample, system 300 may be any suitable system for monitoring a flow ofmaterial through a material-transporting passage of a machine, e.g.,when passage system 305 may be part of a vehicle (e.g., a motor vehicle,aircraft, and/or ship) and/or industrial or commercial equipment, and/ora structure (e.g., buildings of any size and/or structures such asbridges). For example, system 300 may be any suitable system fordetecting unsuitable operation (e.g., leaking) of amaterial-transporting passage such as, e.g., a passage transporting aflow of fluid material. For example, system 300 may be any suitablesystem for monitoring a flow of any suitable material through a passage.

Passage system 305 may be any system that transports an exemplary flowmaterial 332 such as, for example, gaseous fluid material, liquid fluidmaterial, and/or solid material (e.g., solid material capable of actingin a fluid-like manner). As illustrated in FIGS. 1 and 2, passage system305 may include a plurality of members 325. For example, members 325 maybe any suitable structural member for transporting exemplary flowmaterial 332, e.g., a structural member including a passage 328. Forexample, member 325 may be a structural piping member having passage 328(e.g., any suitable substantially hollow passage or channel). Forexample, member 325 may be a structural metal (e.g., steel) pipe, astructural plastic (e.g., PVC) pipe, and/or a structural member formedfrom any suitable material for forming a passage for transporting flowmaterial. Member 325 may have any suitable shape for transporting flowmaterial such as, for example, a circular or elliptical shape, a squareor rectangular shape, a polygonal shape, and/or any other suitableshape. Also for example, member 325 may be any suitable member fortransporting a flow of material through exemplary vehicles, equipment,and/or structures disclosed, e.g., above. For example, member 325 mayalso be a relatively thin metal tubing (e.g., copper tubing) such as apassage for transporting fluid through a vehicle (e.g., fuel, hydraulicfluid, and/or coolant), industrial equipment, and/or a structure.

Exemplary flow material 332 may be any suitable material that may betransported via members 325. For example, flow material 332 may be afluid material (e.g., gaseous fluid material and/or liquid fluidmaterial), a solid material capable of acting in a fluid-like manner(e.g., a granular material such as fine aggregate such as sand and/orcoarse aggregate such as stones that may be mixed with water or otherfluid), and/or a combination of any suitable gaseous fluid, liquidfluid, and/or fluid-like solid material. For example, flow material 332may be a fossil fuel in fluid form (e.g., refined oil or crude oil,natural gas, and/or any other suitable type of fossil fuel), water, air,oxygen, carbon dioxide, any suitable chemical in fluid form, waste orwastewater, and/or any other suitable material that may flow through apassage.

Flow material 332 may be, for example, transported under pressurethrough members 325 of passage system 305. For example, a plurality ofmembers 325 may be attached together and placed above and/or undergroundto transfer flow material 332 over any suitable distance (e.g., members325 may be attached together by fasteners, welding, and/or any othersuitable technique to form passage system 305). For example, passagesystem 305 may transport flow material 332 (e.g., under pressure)between a plurality of locations. For example as illustrated in FIG. 1,passage system 305 may transport flow material 332 between a firstlocation 330 and a second location 335. For example, locations 330 and335 may be one or more of an industrial activity (e.g., refinery,chemical production facility, drilling platform or location, and/or anyother suitable industrial facility), commercial activity utilizing flowmaterial 332 (e.g., a factory or other production facility, an airport,a city, a port, and or any other suitable commercial activity), multiplelocations in a vehicle utilizing flow material 332, and/or multiplelocations in the same structure or in different structures. For example,locations 330 and 335 may be located at any suitable distance from eachother such as, e.g., tens or hundreds of feet (e.g., different points orlocations in the same vehicle, structure, and or facility), thousands offeet (e.g., points or locations in differing vehicles, structures,and/or facilities), and/or several miles, dozens of miles, hundreds ofmiles, and/or thousands of miles from each other (e.g., pipelinestransporting flow material 332 over relatively long distances).

As illustrated in FIG. 1, system 300 may include may include a sensorassembly 310, a flow monitoring module 315, and a user interface 320.For example, system 300 may include a plurality of sensor assemblies310. Sensor assembly 310, flow monitoring module 315, and user interface320 may be connected for example via network 301, which may be similarto exemplary network 201 disclosed below regarding FIG. 7.

Sensor assembly 310 may be any suitable sensor assembly for monitoringproperties of a flow material. As illustrated in FIG. 3, sensor assembly310 may include a housing 340, an attachment portion 345, a sensor array350, and a communication device 355. Sensor array 350 and communicationdevice 355 may be housed at least partially or substantially entirelywithin housing 340. Attachment portion 345 may attach sensor assembly310 to passage system 305.

Housing 340 may be any suitable structural assembly for containingand/or attachment of components of sensor assembly 310. For example,housing 340 may be a structural assembly having any suitable shape(e.g., rectangular prism, cylindrical, cubic, and/or any other suitableshape) and including one or more cavities for containing components ofsensor assembly 310. Housing 340 may also be any suitable housing forprotecting components of sensor assembly 310 from the elements (e.g.,precipitation, wind, exposure to heat and light, and/or any otherenvironmental or manmade effects), sealing interior cavities of housing340 against the intrusion of debris and/or other undesirable material,and/or protection from intrusion or tampering from unauthorized users,animals, and/or vegetation. Housing 340 (e.g., as well as othercomponents of sensor assembly 310) may be formed from any suitablematerials for containing, protecting, and/or sealing components ofsensor assembly 310 such as, for example, polymer material, structuralmetal (e.g., structural steel), co-polymer material, thermoplastic andthermosetting polymers, resin-containing material, polyethylene,polystyrene, polypropylene, epoxy resins, phenolic resins, AcrylanitrileButadiene Styrene (ABS), Polycarbonate (PC), Mix of ABS and PC, Acetal(POM), Acetate, Acrylic (PMMA), Liquid Crystal Polymer (LCP), Mylar,Polyamid-Nylon, Polyamid-Nylon 6, Polyamid-Nylon 11, PolybutyleneTerephthalate (PBT), Polycarbonate (PC), Polyetherimide (PEI),Polyethylene (PE), Low Density PE (LDPE), High Density PE (HDPE), UltraHigh Molecular Weight PE (UHMW PE), Polyethylene Terephthalate (PET),PolPolypropylene (PP), Polyphthalamide (PPA), Polyphenylenesulfide(PPS), Polystyrene (PS), High Impact Polystyrene (HIPS), Polysulfone(PSU), Polyurethane (PU), Polyvinyl Chloride (PVC), ChlorinatedPolyvinyl chloride (CPVC), Polyvinylidenefluoride (PVDF), StyreneAcrylonitrile (SAN), Teflon TFE, Thermoplastic Elastomer (TPE),Thermoplastic Polyurethane (TPU), and/or Engineered ThermoplasticPolyurethane (ETPU), or any suitable combination thereof.

Attachment portion 345 may be any suitable member, assembly, or devicefor attaching sensor assembly 310 (e.g., housing 340) to a portion ofpassage system 305 so that a flow of exemplary flow material 332 throughpassage system 305 may be measured. For example, attachment portion 345may attach sensor assembly 310 (e.g., housing 340) to an externalsurface of passage system 305 such as, e.g., an external surface ofmember 325. For example as illustrated in FIG. 2, attachment portion 345may attach sensor assembly 310 (e.g., housing 340) to an externalsurface of a wall portion of member 325, wherein the internal surface ofthe wall portion of member 325 may form passage 328 through which flowmaterial 332 may be transported. Accordingly for example, attachmentportion 345 may attach sensor assembly 310 (e.g., housing 340) to member325 so that sensor assembly 310 is separated from flow material 332(e.g., flowing through passage 328) by a wall portion of member 325(e.g., a relatively thin structural wall of member 325 such as, forexample, a structural steel section, a plastic section, and/or astructural section of any suitable type of material for forming member325). Accordingly for example, attachment portion 345 may attach sensorassembly 310 at a location that is relatively close to a flow of flowmaterial 332. For example, attachment portion 345 may be anexternal-surface-mounting attachment portion configured tonon-intrusively attach sensor assembly 310 to a surface of passagesystem 305 (e.g., attach sensor assembly 310 to member 325 withoutpenetrating, piercing, and/or puncturing a wall portion of member 325).For example, attachment portion 345 may allow sensor array 350 to serveas a noninvasive sensor array disposed at a surface of member 325transporting flow material 332.

Attachment portion 345 may attach sensor assembly 310 (e.g., housing340) to passage system 305 by any suitable technique. For example,attachment portion 345 may include a non-penetrating attachment devicethat may attach sensor assembly 310 to passage system 305 withoutpenetrating any portion of passage system 305 (e.g., a wall portion ofmember 325). For example, attachment portion 345 may include a threadedattachment device, a bolted attachment device, a snap-fit attachmentdevice, a friction-fit attachment device, an adhesive attachment device,a hook and loop attachment device, a magnetic attachment device, and/orany other suitable mechanical attachment device. For example, attachmentportion 345 may be integrally formed with or attached to housing 340 andmay extend about a perimeter of member 325 to attach sensor assembly 310to member 325. For example, attachment portion 345 may include aclamping device to allow sensor assembly 310 to be a clamp-on sensorassembly (e.g., attachment portion 345 clamps around member 325). Alsofor example, attachment portion 345 may include magnetic, adhesive,and/or mechanical fastening components that attach housing 340 directlyto a surface of member 325. Also for example, attachment portion 345 mayinclude portions that extend to the ground (e.g., a tripod and/or otherfree-standing structural elements) that support housing 340 to be in aposition adjacent to an exterior surface of member 325. Further forexample, attachment portion 345 may include elastic members (e.g.,compression and/or tension members) that urge housing 340 to remain in aposition adjacent to and/or bearing against an exterior surface ofmember 325. Further for example, attachment portion 345 may not tap intopassage system 305 (e.g., penetrate, pierce, and/or puncture a portionor section of member 325). For example, attachment portion 345 mayattach housing 340 to member 325 (e.g., or other portion of passagesystem 305) without damaging and/or deforming any portions of passagesystem 305. For example, housing 340 may be integrally formed withand/or attached to attachment portion 345, and attachment portion 345may also be attached to an exterior surface of passage system 305 (e.g.,an exterior surface of member 325) without penetrating, piercing, and/orpuncturing exterior surface portions of passage system 305. For example,attachment portion 345 may attach sensor assembly 310 substantiallycompletely externally to passage system 305 (e.g., to member 325).Attachment portion 345 may for example be an integral portion of housing340. For example, attachment portion 345 may partially or substantiallyentirely form a bottom surface of housing 340 that may beexternal-surface-disposable on member 325 (e.g., on an exterior surfaceof member 325).

Communication device 355 may be any suitable device for communicatingdata between sensor assembly 310 and any other component of system 300.For example, communication device 355 may include any suitabletransceiver device (e.g., transmitter device and/or receiver device) fortransmitting data sensed by sensors of sensor array 350 to othercomponents of system 300 (e.g., to flow monitoring module 315 vianetwork 301) and also for receiving data from other components of system300. For example, communication device 355 may receive and transmit dataas disclosed below regarding exemplary communication techniques of FIG.7. For example, communication device 355 may wirelessly transmit data byany suitable technique such as, e.g., wirelessly transmitting data via4G LTE networks (e.g., or any other suitable data transmission techniquefor example via network 301). For example, communication device 355 maytransmit data collected by sensor array 350 of sensor assembly 310substantially continuously. For example, communication device 355 maytransmit data collected by sensor assembly 310 (e.g., to othercomponents of system 300) several times per second and/or many times persecond (e.g., up to 20 times per second and/or up to 50 times per secondor more). For example, communication device 355 may wirelessly transmitdata collected by sensor assembly 310 (e.g., to other components ofsystem 300) between about 40 and 45 times per second, for example, up toabout 42 times per second. For example, sensor array 350 may controlcommunication device 355 to transmit sensed data collected by sensorarray 350 at a frequency of between about one transmission per secondand about fifty transmissions per second. Also for example, sensor array350 may control communication device 355 to transmit (e.g., wirelesslytransmit) sensed data collected by sensor array 350 at a frequency ofbetween about ten transmissions per second and about fifty transmissionsper second.

Sensor array 350 may for example include a controller 360 forcontrolling an operation of sensors of sensor array 350 andcommunication device 355. Controller 360 may include for example amicro-processing logic control device or board components. Also forexample, controller 360 may include input/output arrangements that allowit to be connected (e.g., via wireless and/or electrical connection) tosensors of sensor array 350, communication device 355, flow monitoringmodule 315, and/or user interface 320 (e.g., via network 301 and/or viadirect communication). For example, controller 360 may control anoperation of sensor assembly 310 based on input received from flowmonitoring module 315 and/or user interface 320 via communication device355 and may control a transmission of output from sensors of sensorarray 350 via communication device 355. For example, controller 360 maycommunicate with components of system 300 via wireless communicationand/or via electrical lines (e.g., electrical line communication tosensors of sensor array 350 and/or communication device 355). Forexample, controller 360 may control sensors of sensor array 350 and/orcommunication device 355 so that sensor assembly 310 acts as an Internetof Things (IoT) device that may provide data to and/or be controlled bysystem 300 as a data-providing device.

Sensors of sensor array 350 may collect data associated with a flow offlow material 332 through passage 328. Sensor array 350 may include anysuitable sensors for measuring any suitable properties associated withflow material 332, a flow of flow material 332, and/or properties ofportions of passage system 305. For example, sensor array 350 mayinclude a vibration sensor 365, a location sensor 370, a pressure sensor375, a density sensor 380, a corrosion sensor 385, a temperature sensor390, and/or any other suitable type of sensor for measuring propertiesof flow material 332 and/or portions of passage system 305. Also forexample, sensor array 350 may include a sonic boom detection sensor. Forexample, sensor array 350 may include any suitable sensor for detectinga sonic boom (e.g., a sonic boom caused by jets, rifles, and/orlightning) that may for example cause valves of passage system 305 tomalfunction or operate unsuitably.

Vibration sensor 365 may be any suitable sensor for measuring vibrationsof portions of passage system 305. For example, vibration sensor 365 maybe any suitable sensor for measuring vibrations of member 325 such as,e.g., vibrations of a wall portion of member 325 forming passage 328carrying a flow of flow material 332. For example, vibration sensor 365may be any suitable member vibration sensor for measuring a frequency ofvibration of a structural member. For example, vibration sensor 365 maybe any suitable device for measuring a frequency range of vibrationand/or a transverse sensitivity. For example, vibration sensor 365 maybe a displacement sensor, a velocity sensor, and/or an accelerometer.For example, vibration sensor 365 may be a cantilever-type vibrationsensor, a piezo-electric vibration sensor, and/or any other suitabletype of sensor for measuring vibration. For example, vibration sensor365 may include components such as a servo, piezoelectric,potentiometric, and/or strain gauge accelerometer. Also for example,vibration sensor 365 may include components such as an electromagnetictransducer, a tachometer generator, a capacitance proximity sensor,and/or an eddy current sensor probe. For example, vibration sensor 365may be any suitable sensor that may measure vibrations associated withdeteriorated and/or damaged portions of passage system 305 (e.g.,deteriorated and/or damaged wall portions of member 325). For example,vibration sensor 365 may be any suitable sensor that may detect abnormalvibrations of a given portion of passage system 305 based that givenportion being damaged, worn, deformed, deteriorated, and/or havingleaks.

Location sensor 370 may be any suitable sensor for measuring ageographic location such as, for example, a geo-positioning sensor. Forexample, location sensor 370 may be a global positioning system sensoror any other suitable type of sensor for sensing location with suitableaccuracy (e.g., for pinpointing a location of sensor assembly 310 alongpassage system 305). For example, location sensor 370 may provide aprecise location of sensor assembly 310 of within about 10 feet, withinabout 5 feet, within about 3 feet (e.g., within about 3½ feet, forexample, within 3.6 feet), and/or within about 1 foot.

Pressure sensor 375 may be any suitable non-invasive sensor (e.g.,non-intrusive sensor) for measuring a pressure of flow material 332flowing through passage 328 without being disposed in passage 328 and/orpenetrating through a wall portion of member 325. For example, pressuresensor 375 may be a flow material pressure sensor that includes a straingauge that is disposed on an exterior surface of member 325. Forexample, the exemplary strain gauge of pressure sensor 375 may measure astrain of a wall portion of member 325, from which a pressure withinmember 325 may be determined (e.g., based on using known and/ordetermined properties of member 325 and a measured member strain todetermine pressure of flow material 332). Also for example, pressuresensor 375 may be an ultrasound pressure sensor, a fiber-optic sensor,an acoustic pressure sensor, a multi-frequency pressure monitoringsensor, and/or any other suitable type of pressure sensor that maymeasure a pressure of flow material 332 flowing through passage 328while mounted on an exterior surface of member 325. It is alsocontemplated that pressure sensor 375 may utilize components such asresonance-detecting components, thermal-conductivity-detectingcomponents, and/or ionization-detecting components. For example,pressure sensor 375 may be any suitable type of non-invasive pressuresensor for providing pressure output for measuring pressure differencesof flow material 332 within passage system 305.

Density sensor 380 may be any suitable sensor for measuring a density offlow material 332 flowing through passage 328 without being disposed inpassage 328 and/or penetrating through a wall portion of member 325. Forexample, density sensor 380 may be any suitable non-invasive (e.g.,non-intrusive sensor) fluid density sensor for measuring an internaldensity of flow material 332 flowing in passage 328 of member 325. Forexample, density sensor 380 may be any suitable sensor for locating airpockets, measuring cavitation, and/or identifying debris within passage328 (e.g., regardless of a nominal diameter or width of member 325and/or passage 328). For example, density sensor 380 may be anon-radioactive density sensor (e.g., a sensor that does not utilizeradioactive materials in detecting density). Also for example, sensorarray 350 may be a non-radioactive sensor array (e.g., a sensor arraythat does not utilize radioactive materials in sensing). For example,density sensor 380 may be an ultrasonic sensor. For example, densitysensor 380 may be a flow material density sensor that includes anultrasonic transducer and a device for emitting ultrasonic pulses thatmay be measured by the transducer and/or additional components. Forexample, density sensor 380 may measure density of flow material 332 bymeasuring an acoustic impedance of flow material 332. For example,density sensor 380 may emit an ultrasonic wave that may pass throughflow material 332, reflect off of a rear wall portion of member 325, andreturn to density sensor 380 (e.g., a density of flow material 332 maybe determined based on a measured speed of the wave and/or time it takesthe wave to pass through flow material 332). Also for example,properties of member 325 may be known or determined, which may be usedto adjust output of density sensor 380 to determine the density of flowmaterial 332. Further for example, density sensor 380 may includecomponents for measuring structural vibration resonance frequency ofportions of passage system 305, which may be used to detect densityand/or viscosity of flow material 332.

Corrosion sensor 385 may be any suitable sensor (e.g., non-intrusivesensor) for measuring corrosion of portions of passage system 305 and/ora presence of fragments (e.g., corroded or deteriorated fragments of aninterior portion of member 325) in flow material 332. For example,corrosion sensor 385 may be any suitable sensor (e.g., non-intrusivesensor) for measuring internal corrosion of member 325 (e.g., corrosionof interior wall portions of member 325 forming passage 328). Forexample, corrosion sensor 385 may be any suitable sensor for sensingmagnetic interference within flow material 332. For example, corrosionsensor 385 may be any suitable sensor for detecting debris within flowmaterial 332 (e.g., by detecting magnetic interference), which mayincrease in a downstream direction of passage system 305 (e.g., mayincrease moving in a direction of flow of flow material 332). Forexample, corrosion sensor 385 may be a flow material corrosion sensorthat includes a magnetometer (e.g., or any other suitable device thatdetects a magnetic interference in a flow of material). For example,corrosion sensor 385 may be any suitable type of non-invasive sensor fordetecting wash such as metallic wash (e.g., metallic components that maybe present in flow material 332). Also for example, corrosion sensor 385may be an ultrasonic sensor, sensor for detecting changes in magneticproperties (e.g., a sensor for performing eddy testing), anelectrical-resistance-testing sensor (e.g., any suitable sensor fordetecting electrical resistance), a sensor utilizing peltier-basedmeasurement, and/or any other suitable sensor for determining corrosionof member 325.

In at least some exemplary embodiments, corrosion sensor 385 may includea plurality of sensors (e.g., an array of sensors). For example,corrosion sensor 385 may include any suitable number of sensors formeasuring corrosion such as, for example, two, three, four or moresensors. Corrosion sensor 385 may for example read an interference ofcorrosion processes of member 325 (e.g., an interference of corrosionprocesses of member 325 based on flow material 332 being transported viapassage 328). As illustrated in FIG. 8, corrosion sensor 385 may forexample include a sensor 386 (e.g., first sensor 386) and a sensor 388(e.g., second sensor 388).

Sensors 386 and 388 may be any suitable sensors for reading aninterference of corrosion processes such as, for example,magnetoresistive sensors. For example, sensors 386 and 388 may bemagnetometers. For example, sensors 386 and 388 may be magnetoresistivemagnetometers. For example, sensors 386 and 388 may be any suitablesensors having components that may have an electrical resistance thatmay change based on an applied magnetic field (e.g., based on a magneticfield applied by member 325 that may include corrosion processes).

In at least some exemplary embodiments, sensors 386 and/or 388 may beAMR sensors (Anisotropic Magnetoresistive magnetic sensors). Forexample, sensors 386 and/or 388 may include magnetoresistive components(e.g., including ferromagnetic materials such as Iron and/or Nickel).The magnetoresistive components of sensors 386 and/or 388 may have anelectrical resistance that may change based on a magnetic field ofmember 325 (e.g., based on corrosion processes occurring in member 325).Corrosion sensor 385 may measure this change in electrical resistance,and this measurement may be used by controller 360 to determinecharacteristics of corrosion processes based on the exemplary operationsdisclosed for example herein. Also for example, sensors 386 and/or 388may be GMR sensors (giant magnetoresistive sensors). For example,sensors 386 and/or 388 may be any suitable sensor including alternatinglayers of ferromagnetic and non-magnetic conductive material that may beused for measuring corrosion processes.

As illustrated in FIG. 8, sensors 386 and 388 may be spaced atpredetermined distances from member 325. For example, one of sensors 386and 388 may be disposed within housing 340 at a position that isrelatively closer to an exterior surface portion 326 of member 325 thanthe other of sensors 386 and 388. For example, first sensor 386 may bedisposed at a distance D1 from exterior surface portion 326 of member325 (e.g., and/or at a distance D1 from a bottom surface of housing 340that may be in contact with exterior surface portion 326), and secondsensor 388 may be disposed at a distance D2 from exterior surfaceportion 326 of member 325 (e.g., and/or at a distance D2 from a bottomsurface of housing 340 that may be in contact with exterior surfaceportion 326). It is also contemplated that either of sensors 386 or 388may be disposed at either of distance D1 or distance D2 from exteriorsurface portion 326 (e.g., and/or from a bottom surface of housing 340).Exterior surface portion 326 may be for example an exterior surface ofmember 325 or a portion of member 325 disposed at or near the exteriorsurface of member 325.

In at least some exemplary embodiments, first sensor 386 may be disposedat first distance D1 from exterior surface portion 326 (e.g., and/orfrom a bottom surface of housing 340), which may be a location closeenough to member 325 to measure both corrosion processes of member 325and background processes. Background processes may for example includesubstantially all background magnetic field processes occurring in thevicinity of member 325 (e.g., ambient magnetic field processes). Asdescribed for example herein, the background magnetic field processesmay be identified and separated from the corrosion processes based on anoperation of corrosion sensor 385 and system 300. Distance D1 may be forexample between about 0 centimeters and about 3 centimeters (e.g.,between about 0″ and about ⅛″). For example based on distance D1, firstsensor 386 may be disposed at exterior surface portion 326 (e.g., at anexterior surface of member 325) or up to about 3 centimeters (e.g., upto about ⅛″) from exterior surface portion 326 (e.g., and/or from abottom surface of housing 340). It is also contemplated that distance D1may be greater than 3 centimeters (e.g., up to any suitable distanceless than distance D2). For example based on being disposed at distanceD1, first sensor 386 may sense both corrosion processes of member 325and background magnetic properties (e.g., “background noise”) affectinga magnetic field near member 325.

In at least some exemplary embodiments, second sensor 388 may bedisposed at second distance D2 from exterior surface portion 326 (e.g.,and/or from a bottom surface of housing 340), which may be a locationthat is far enough away from member 325 so that corrosion processes ofmember 325 may not affect (e.g., may not substantially affect) valuessensed by second sensor 388. For example, second sensor 388 disposed atdistance D2 may sense background magnetic field processes (e.g.,“background noise”), but may not be close enough to member 325 to sensecorrosion processes of member 325. Distance D2 may be for examplebetween about 1 inch and about 8 inches, between about 1 inch and about5 inches, or between about 1 inch and about 2 inches. In at least someexemplary embodiments, distance D2 may be about 1 inch. Distance D2 maybe for example up to 8 inches away from exterior surface portion 326(e.g., and/or from a bottom surface of housing 340). For example basedon distance D2, second sensor 388 may be disposed at up to about 1 inchfrom exterior surface portion 326 (e.g., and/or from a bottom surface ofhousing 340), at about 1 inch from exterior surface portion 326 (e.g.,and/or from a bottom surface of housing 340), at between about 1 inchand about 2 inches from exterior surface portion 326 (e.g., and/or froma bottom surface of housing 340), at between about 1 inch and about 5inches from exterior surface portion 326 (e.g., and/or from a bottomsurface of housing 340), or between about 1 inch and about 8 inches fromexterior surface portion 326 (e.g., and/or from a bottom surface ofhousing 340). It is also contemplated that distance D2 may be greaterthan 8 inches from exterior surface portion 326 (e.g., and/or from abottom surface of housing 340).

It is also contemplated that distance D1 and distance D2 may be set atany desired value based on the effect (e.g., varying based on distance)of an exemplary magnetic field, which may be proportional to a distanceto (e.g., or from) an element being measured (e.g., to or from anexterior surface of member 325). For example, distance D1 and distanceD2 may be set based on the effect of a measured process (e.g., corrosionprocess) decreasing or increasing based on a relationship such as therelationship illustrated below in Eqn. 1 below. For example asillustrated in Eqn. 1 below, “B” may be defined as the negative gradientof an exemplary magnetic scalar potential w, while “m” may be themagnetic moment, and “r” may be the location or distance. For example,“r” may be a distance to (e.g., or from) an element being measured(e.g., to or from an exterior surface of member 325). For example in atleast some exemplary embodiments, distance D1 or distance D2 maycorrespond to a desired “r” value.

$\begin{matrix}{{B(r)} = {- {\nabla\left( \frac{m \cdot r}{r^{3}} \right)}}} & {{Eqn}.\mspace{14mu} 1}\end{matrix}$

In at least some exemplary embodiments, first sensor 386 disposed atfirst distance D1 may sense both corrosion processes of member 325 andbackground magnetic properties (e.g., “background noise”) affecting themagnetic field near member 325, while second sensor 388 disposed atsecond distance D2 may sense background magnetic properties (e.g., the“background noise”). System 300 (e.g., controller 360) may use themeasurements provided by second sensor 388 to identify and/or deduct thevalue of “background noise” from the measurements of first sensor 386,and may thereby quantify a substantial remainder of the measurements offirst sensor 386 that may correspond to the measurement of the corrosionprocesses of member 325. System 300 (e.g., controller 360) may therebyuse this measurement of the corrosion processes to determine a corrosion(e.g., quantify corrosion) of member 325.

Returning to FIG. 3, temperature sensor 390 may be any suitable sensorfor measuring a temperature of flow material 332 flowing in passage 328and/or measuring a temperature of portions of passage system 305. Forexample, temperature sensor 390 may either directly or indirectlymeasure an expansion and/or contraction of flow material 332 and/ormember 325. For example, temperature sensor 390 may determine atemperature based on heat conductivity determination. For example,properties of member 325 may be known or determined (e.g., sectionalthickness, amount by which a member may be heated, and/or any othersuitable properties). Using these known or determined properties ofmember 325, a thermal value of member 325 that is sensed by temperaturesensor 390 may be adjusted based on heat conductivity attributes ofmember 325 that may be derived from known or determined values of member325. A temperature of flow material 332 based on sensing a temperatureof member 325 may thereby be obtained. Also for example, temperaturesensor 390 may be a resistance temperature detector sensor, athermal-pulse-emitting sensor, a thermal-ribbon sensor, an on-pipethermal sensor, and/or any other suitable non-intrusive sensor formeasuring a temperature of flow material 332 and/or member 325.

Although the exemplary illustration of FIG. 3 illustrates six differentsensors 365, 370, 375, 380, 385, and 390, sensor array 350 may includeany number of sensors that may measure multiple properties. For example,a single sensor may measure any number of properties and may thereforeserve as one or more of sensors 365, 370, 375, 380, 385, and/or 390(e.g., one or more of sensors 365, 370, 375, 380, 385, and/or 390 may bethe same sensor). For example, a single ultrasonic sensor may be densitysensor 380 and corrosion sensor 385. Accordingly for example, sensorarray 350 may include one, a few, or many sensors that may sense some orall of a vibration, a location, a pressure, a density, corrosion,temperature, and/or any other desired properties of flow material 332and/or portions of passage system 305. Also for example, sensor array350 may include, e.g., a sonic boom detection sensor (e.g., as disclosedfor example above).

For example, any desired number of sensor assemblies 310 may be disposedon passage system 305. Depending for example on a length, size, and/orimportance of some or all segments of passage system 305, one, several,many, dozens, hundreds, and/or thousands or more of sensor assemblies310 may be attached to passage system 305 to measure properties of flowmaterial 332 at any desired locations. For example, sensor assemblies310 may be disposed at any desired substantially constant and/orvariable intervals along a length of passage system 305.

Returning to FIG. 1, flow monitoring module 315 may communicate withother components of system 300 via network 301 (e.g., as disclosed belowregarding FIG. 7). Flow monitoring module 315 may also be partially orsubstantially entirely integrated with one or more components of system300 such as, for example, network 301, user interface 320, and/or one ormore sensor assemblies 310. Flow monitoring module 315 may includecomponents similar to the exemplary components disclosed below regardingFIGS. 6 and 7. For example, flow monitoring module 315 may includecomputer-executable code stored in non-volatile memory. Flow monitoringmodule 315 may also include a processor, or alternatively, a processorfor processing data associated with system 300 may be partially orsubstantially entirely integrated into any portion (e.g., or combinationof portions) of system 300 (e.g., network 301, flow monitoring module315, user interface 320, and/or one or more sensor assemblies 310).

Flow monitoring module 315 may be configured to retrieve, store,process, and/or analyze data transmitted from one or more sensorassemblies 310 to flow monitoring module 315. For example, flowmonitoring module 315 may operate using data from any desired number orsensor assemblies 310 such as, for example, one, two, several, dozens,hundreds, and/or thousands or more sensor assemblies 310 (including,e.g., vibration data, location data, pressure data, density data,corrosion data, temperature data, and/or any other suitable datadescribing any other desired properties of flow material 332 and/orportions of passage system 305).

Flow monitoring module 315 may perform analysis using the data receivedfrom sensor assemblies 310 to for example predict potential failure,leaks, and/or other unsuitable operation of passage system 305 beforesuch unsuitable operation may occur. For example, flow monitoring module315 may utilize sophisticated machine learning and/or artificialintelligence techniques to perform predictive analysis using some orsubstantially all data collected by sensor assemblies 310. For example,system 300 (e.g., flow monitoring module 315) may for example utilizethe collected data to prepare and submit (e.g., via network 301, forexample via wireless transmission such as via 4G LTE networks) datasetsand variables to cloud computing clusters and/or other analytical tools(e.g., predictive analytical tools) which may analyze such data usingartificial intelligence neural networks. Flow monitoring module 315 mayfor example include cloud computing clusters performing predictiveanalysis. For example, flow monitoring module 315 may utilize neuralnetwork-based artificial intelligence to predictively assess risk (e.g.,potential failure of portions of passage system 305 based oncontinuously collected data transmitted from sensor assemblies 310). Forexample, system 300 (e.g., flow monitoring module 315) may use thecollected data to predict a longevity of operation of some or allportions of passage system 305. For example, the exemplary neuralnetwork may include a plurality of input nodes that may beinterconnected and/or networked with a plurality of additional and/orother processing nodes to determine a predicted result. For example,exemplary neural networks of system 300 may determine a predicted resultof a given portion of passage system 305 to be one of the followingexemplary predicted results: “no problem” or “all clear” (e.g., nofailure or unsuitable operation predicted during a predetermined timeperiod), a soft alert such as a warning (e.g., no imminent danger offailure, but indications of possible future unsuitable operation exist),and/or an urgent warning (e.g., imminent failure or unsuitable operationis predicted).

For example, exemplary artificial intelligence processes may includefiltering and processing datasets, processing to simplify datasets bystatistically eliminating irrelevant, invariant or superfluous variablesor creating new variables which are an amalgamation of a set ofunderlying variables, and/or processing for splitting datasets intotrain, test and validate datasets using at least a stratified samplingtechnique. For example, exemplary artificial intelligence processes mayalso include processing for training a machine learning model to predicta longevity of passage system 305 (e.g., including potential failures ofpassage system 305) based on data collected by sensor assemblies 310.For example, the prediction algorithms and approach may includeregression models, tree-based approaches, logistic regression, Bayesianmethods, deep-learning and neural networks both as a stand-alone and onan ensemble basis, and final prediction may be based on themodel/structure which delivers the highest degree of accuracy andstability as judged by implementation against the test and validatedatasets. Also for example, exemplary artificial intelligence processesmay include processing for training a machine learning model to predicta longevity of passage system 305 (e.g., including potential failures ofpassage system 305) based on data collected by sensor assemblies 310.

For example, exemplary artificial intelligence processes of system 300may include using data (e.g., such as density data of flow material 332measured by density sensor 380) collected by one or more sensorassemblies 310 to identify air pockets, cavitation, a presence ofdebris, and/or a flow direction within passage 328. Also for example,exemplary artificial intelligence processes of system 300 may includeusing data (e.g., such as corrosion data measured by corrosion sensor385) collected by one or more sensor assemblies 310 to identify a rateat which members 325 may be corroding. Further for example, exemplaryartificial intelligence processes of system 300 may include using data(e.g., such as pressure data measured by pressure sensor 375) collectedby one or more sensor assemblies 310 to measure pressure differencesbetween different sensor assemblies 310 to predict potential locationsof unsuitable operation of passage system 305. Additionally for example,exemplary artificial intelligence processes of system 300 may includeusing data (e.g., such as vibration data measured by vibration sensor365) collected by one or more sensor assemblies 310 to identifypotential leaks and/or deteriorating portions of passage system 305 thatmay fail. Also for example, exemplary artificial intelligence processesof system 300 may include using data (e.g., such as location datameasured by location sensor 370) collected by one or more sensorassemblies 310 to pinpoint and prioritize competing locations ofpotential future unsuitable operation (e.g., identify and prioritizelocations of passage system 305 to be remediated to avoid futurefailure). Further for example, exemplary artificial intelligenceprocesses of system 300 may include using data (e.g., such astemperature data measured by temperature sensor 390) collected by one ormore sensor assemblies 310 to predict potential areas of failure byidentifying portions of passage system 305 having abnormal temperaturesand/or experiencing unsuitable expansion and/or contraction. Forexample, system 300 may provide predicted results for some or allmonitored portions of passage system 305 such as the exemplary resultsdisclosed above (e.g., “no problem” or “all clear,” soft alerts such asa warning, and/or urgent warnings). For example, if a given sensorassembly 310 provides data indicating a large increase in vibration of agiven member 325 (e.g., as sensed by vibration sensor 365) occurringcontemporaneously or nearly contemporaneously with a sharp decrease ofsensed pressure at that location (e.g., based on sensed data provided bypressure sensor 375 and location sensor 370), system 300 may issue anurgent warning indicating currently-occurring and/or imminent memberfailure and leakage (e.g., oil spill). System 300 may make predictionsand issue warnings based on any suitable combination of sensed dataand/or changes in sensed data that may indicate any given number ofpotential scenarios. For example, a large increase in temperature offlow material 332 at a given location as sensed by temperature sensor390 and location sensor 370 may indicate a likelihood of undesiredcombustion and an urgent warning may be issued. Also for example, lesssignificant swings or changes in collected date may result in system 300issuing a warning (e.g., “soft alert”). System 300 may operate (e.g.,using artificial intelligence) to issue any suitable number of possiblepredictive results based on any suitable combination of collected dataand/or changes in collected data.

For example, system 300 (e.g., flow monitoring module 315) may utilizecontinuously collected data from sensor assemblies 310, which mayinclude thousands, millions, and/or billions of data points, to performpredictive analysis using artificial intelligence and/or machinelearning. System 300 (e.g., flow monitoring module 315) may for exampleuse the continuously-growing body of data collected by sensor assemblies310 to establish benchmarks and metrics for defining a suitable range ofoperation of passage system 305 (e.g., that can be used in conjunctionwith other similar exemplary passage systems to benchmark suitableoperation, and/or which may be used as a comparison against dataindicating an unsuitable operation). For example, system 300 (e.g., flowmonitoring module 315) may use substantially all available data tocontinuously refine predictive analysis for identifying potentialfailure and/or unsuitable operation of passage system 305.

User interface 320 may be any suitable user interface for receivinginput and/or providing output (e.g., raw data and/or results ofpredictive analysis described above) to a user. For example, userinterface may be, for example, a touchscreen device (e.g., of asmartphone, a tablet, a smartboard, and/or any suitable computerdevice), a computer keyboard and monitor (e.g., desktop or laptop), anaudio-based device for entering input and/or receiving output via sound,a tactile-based device for entering input and receiving output based ontouch or feel, a dedicated user interface designed to work specificallywith other components of system 300, and/or any other suitable userinterface (e.g., including components and/or configured to work withcomponents described below regarding FIGS. 1 and 2). For example, userinterface 320 may include a touchscreen device of a smartphone orhandheld tablet. For example, user interface 320 may include a display395 (e.g., a computing device display, a touchscreen display, and/or anyother suitable type of display) that may provide raw data and/orpredictive analysis results to a user. For example, display 395 mayinclude a graphical user interface to facilitate entry of input by auser and/or receiving output. For example, a user may utilize userinterface 320 to query raw data results and/or enter parameters todefine a set of desired output (e.g., portions of passage system 305that are most likely to fail within a specified time period such as, forexample, the next 30 days, the next 6 months, the next year, the nextseveral years, and/or the next decade or longer time period). Also forexample, system 300 may provide alerts to a user via output transmittedto user interface 320 (e.g., alerts pushed to a user via user interface320) for example if a portion of passage system 305 is predicted toimminently fail and/or if significant, sudden changes occur regardingcollected data (e.g., one or more sensor assemblies 310 report a largeincrease or decrease in values that may indicate a significantprobability of failure such as, for example, a sharp drop in measuredpressure by pressure sensor 375). System 300 may also send such alertsby alternative methods such as, for example, via text message, email,and/or recording sent by telephone.

In at least some exemplary embodiments, an exemplary assembly forsensing corrosion of a member (e.g., member 325) may include a housing(e.g., housing 340) having a bottom surface that isexternal-surface-disposable on the member, and a sensor array disposedat least partially in the housing, the sensor array (e.g., sensor 385)including a first sensor (e.g., sensor 386) and a second sensor (e.g.,sensor 388). The first sensor and the second sensor may bemagnetoresistive sensors. The first sensor may be disposed up to about 3centimeters from the bottom surface of the housing. The second sensormay be disposed at between about 1 inch and about 5 inches from thebottom surface of the housing. The first sensor and the second sensormay each be selected from the group consisting of an anisotropicmagnetoresistive sensor and a giant magnetoresistive sensor. A bottomsurface of the first sensor may be disposed up to about 3 centimetersfrom the bottom surface of the housing. A bottom surface of the firstsensor may be disposed at about 3 centimeters from the bottom surface ofthe housing. A bottom surface of the second sensor may be disposed atbetween about 1 inch and about 5 inches from the bottom surface of thehousing. A bottom surface of the second sensor may be disposed atbetween about 1 inch and about 2 inches from the bottom surface of thehousing. The second sensor may be disposed at about 1 inch from thebottom surface of the housing. A bottom surface of the second sensor maybe disposed at about 1 inch from the bottom surface of the housing. Theassembly may be a pipeline monitoring assembly configured to beexternally attached to a pipeline. The pipeline monitoring assembly maybe a natural gas monitoring assembly.

In at least some exemplary embodiments, an exemplary assembly forsensing corrosion of a pipeline member (e.g., member 325) may include ahousing (e.g., housing 340) having a bottom surface that isexternal-surface-disposable on the pipeline member, and a corrosionsensor array (e.g., sensor 385) disposed at least partially in thehousing, the corrosion sensor array including a first corrosion sensor(e.g., sensor 386) and a second corrosion sensor (e.g., sensor 388). Thefirst corrosion sensor and the second corrosion sensor may bemagnetoresistive sensors. A bottom surface of the first corrosion sensormay be disposed at about 3 centimeters from the bottom surface of thehousing. A bottom surface of the second corrosion sensor may be disposedat about 1 inch from the bottom surface of the housing. The firstcorrosion sensor and the second corrosion sensor may be each selectedfrom the group consisting of an anisotropic magnetoresistive sensor anda giant magnetoresistive sensor. The pipeline member may be selectedfrom the group consisting of a natural gas pipeline member, a waterpipeline member, an oil pipeline member, and a chemical pipeline member.The assembly may further include a non-radioactive density sensor.

The exemplary disclosed apparatus, system, and method may be used in anysuitable application for monitoring flow in a passage. For example, theexemplary disclosed apparatus, system, and method may be used in anyapplication for monitoring flow of material through a passage of amember. For example, the exemplary disclosed apparatus, system, andmethod may be used in monitoring a flow carried in a passage of astructural member such as, e.g., in pipeline monitoring (e.g., an oilpipeline or a chemical pipeline), monitoring of flow through amaterial-transporting passage of a machine such as a vehicle (e.g., amotor vehicle, aircraft, and/or ship) and/or industrial or commercialequipment, and/or monitoring of flow through a structure (e.g.,buildings of any size and/or structures such as bridges). For example,the exemplary disclosed apparatus, system, and method may be used in anysuitable application for detecting unsuitable operation (e.g., leaking)of a material-transporting passage such as, e.g., a passage carrying aflow of fluid.

An exemplary operation of the exemplary disclosed apparatus, system, andmethod will now be described. For example, FIG. 5 illustrates anexemplary process 400. Process 400 starts at step 405. At step 410,users may place sensor assemblies 310 in any desired configuration.Users may place sensor assemblies 310 at portions of passage system 305as disclosed for example above. As disclosed for example above, anynumber of sensor assemblies 310 may be placed to monitor passage system305 at any desired locations and in any desired configuration.

At step 415, an operation of system 300 may be initiated. System 300 mayfor example be initiated based on user input provided via user interface320 and/or automatically by system 300 (e.g., by flow monitoring module315) based on predetermined parameters, a predetermined time period,and/or analysis performed by system 300 based on processes similar tothe exemplary processes disclosed for example above.

At step 420, sensor assemblies 310 may collect data as disclosed forexample above. At step 425, data collected by sensor assemblies 310(e.g., by sensors 365, 370, 375, 380, 385, and/or 390) may betransmitted from sensor assemblies 310 as disclosed for example above(e.g., via communication device 355) to flow monitoring module 315. Itis also contemplated that collected data of select sensor assemblies 310may also be directly transmitted to user interface 320 (e.g., uponparameters and/or queries inputted by a user via user interface 320).

At step 430, system 300 (e.g., flow monitoring module 315) may performpredictive analysis and other analysis and processes using the collecteddata as disclosed, for example, above. At step 435, results of theanalysis performed at step 430 and/or raw collected data may be providedto a user by transmission (e.g., wireless transmission and/or any othersuitable transmission as disclosed for example herein) to user interface320. Alerts based on the collected data and predictive analysisperformed at step 430 may also be transmitted to a user via userinterface 320. Also for example, system 300 may send results and alertsvia text message, email, webpage, and/or recording sent by telephone. Atstep 435, a user may also use user interface 320 to query and sortresults of predictive analysis by, for example, location of passagesystem 305, time period (e.g., upcoming month or year), and/or type ofexisting and/or potential failure or unsuitable operation. Also forexample, a user may enter additional parameters and/or input to modifythe configuration or display of results on user interface 320.

At step 440, system 300 may continue to collect data using a sameconfiguration of sensor assemblies 310 for any amount of time desired bya user and/or as determined automatically by system 300. For example,system 300 may repeat steps 420, 425, 430, and 435 for any desiredperiod of time. If a user and/or system 300 (e.g., based on analysisand/or predetermined criteria) determine that data should no longer becollected using a same configuration of sensor assemblies 310, process400 may proceed to step 445.

At step 445, a user and/or system 300 (e.g., based on analysis and/orpredetermined criteria) may determine that data should be collectedusing a different configuration of sensor assemblies 310. Process 400may return to step 410, and a user may physically rearrange sensorassemblies 310 relative to passage system 305 as desired and/or based onprompts from system 300 (e.g., based on predefined criteria and/or basedon options generated using analysis performed by system 300 to furtheroptimize monitoring of passage system 305). System 300 may then repeatsteps 415, 420, 425, 430, 435, 440, and/or 445 as disclosed above basedon any desired monitoring plan. When a user and/or system 300 determinethat data collection should be stopped (e.g., for maintenance of system300 and/or to end monitoring of passage system 305), then process 400ends at step 450.

In at least some exemplary embodiments, an exemplary method fornon-intrusively sensing corrosion of a member (e.g., member 325) mayinclude disposing a first sensor (e.g., sensor 386) at a first distance(e.g., distance D1) from an exterior surface portion (e.g., exteriorsurface portion 326) of the member, and disposing a second sensor (e.g.,sensor 388) at a second distance (e.g., distance D2) from the exteriorsurface portion of the member. The first sensor and the second sensormay be magnetoresistive sensors. The first distance may be between aboutzero centimeters and about 3 centimeters. The second distance may bebetween about 1 inch and about 5 inches. The member may be a pipelinemember including a passage. The member may be selected from the groupconsisting of a natural gas pipeline member, a water pipeline member, anoil pipeline member, and a chemical pipeline member. The first sensorand the second sensor may be each selected from the group consisting ofan anisotropic magnetoresistive magnetic sensor and a giantmagnetoresistive sensor. A bottom surface of the first sensor may bedisposed at about 3 centimeters from an exterior surface of the member.A bottom surface of the second sensor may be disposed at about 1 inchfrom an exterior surface of the member.

The exemplary disclosed apparatus, system, and method may provide aneffective technique for safely monitoring a flow of material through apassage of a structural member without damaging the structural memberand without causing harm to personnel or the environment. For example,the exemplary disclosed apparatus, system, and method may provide atechnique for measuring a plurality of properties of a flow through apassage at a fast rate (e.g., providing sensor output many times persecond via efficient transmission such as wireless transmission). Alsofor example, the exemplary disclosed apparatus, system, and method mayprovide a technique for monitoring flow in a structural member withoutpenetrating or tapping the structural member and without the use ofpotentially harmful materials such as radioactive materials. Further forexample, the exemplary disclosed apparatus, system, and method mayanalyze the sensed data to perform predictive analysis to identifypotential future structural damage and failure that may be proactivelyremediated to avoid environmental damage and/or financial loss.

An illustrative representation of a computing device appropriate for usewith embodiments of the system of the present disclosure is shown inFIG. 6. The computing device 100 can generally be comprised of a CentralProcessing Unit (CPU, 101), optional further processing units includinga graphics processing unit (GPU), a Random Access Memory (RAM, 102), amother board 103, or alternatively/additionally a storage medium (e.g.,hard disk drive, solid state drive, flash memory, cloud storage), anoperating system (OS, 104), one or more application software 105, adisplay element 106, and one or more input/output devices/means 107,including one or more communication interfaces (e.g., RS232, Ethernet,Wifi, Bluetooth, USB). Useful examples include, but are not limited to,personal computers, smart phones, laptops, mobile computing devices,tablet PCs, touch boards, and servers. Multiple computing devices can beoperably linked to form a computer network in a manner as to distributeand share one or more resources, such as clustered computing devices andserver banks/farms.

Various examples of such general-purpose multi-unit computer networkssuitable for embodiments of the disclosure, their typical configurationand many standardized communication links are well known to one skilledin the art, as explained in more detail and illustrated by FIG. 7, whichis discussed herein-below.

According to an exemplary embodiment of the present disclosure, data maybe transferred to the system, stored by the system and/or transferred bythe system to users of the system across local area networks (LANs)(e.g., office networks, home networks) or wide area networks (WANs)(e.g., the Internet). In accordance with the previous embodiment, thesystem may be comprised of numerous servers communicatively connectedacross one or more LANs and/or WANs. One of ordinary skill in the artwould appreciate that there are numerous manners in which the systemcould be configured and embodiments of the present disclosure arecontemplated for use with any configuration.

In general, the system and methods provided herein may be employed by auser of a computing device whether connected to a network or not.Similarly, some steps of the methods provided herein may be performed bycomponents and modules of the system whether connected or not. Whilesuch components/modules are offline, and the data they generated willthen be transmitted to the relevant other parts of the system once theoffline component/module comes again online with the rest of the network(or a relevant part thereof). According to an embodiment of the presentdisclosure, some of the applications of the present disclosure may notbe accessible when not connected to a network, however a user or amodule/component of the system itself may be able to compose dataoffline from the remainder of the system that will be consumed by thesystem or its other components when the user/offline system component ormodule is later connected to the system network.

Referring to FIG. 7, a schematic overview of a system in accordance withan embodiment of the present disclosure is shown. The system iscomprised of one or more application servers 203 for electronicallystoring information used by the system. Applications in the server 203may retrieve and manipulate information in storage devices and exchangeinformation through a WAN 201 (e.g., the Internet). Applications inserver 203 may also be used to manipulate information stored remotelyand process and analyze data stored remotely across a WAN 201 (e.g., theInternet).

According to an exemplary embodiment, as shown in FIG. 7, exchange ofinformation through the WAN 201 or other network may occur through oneor more high speed connections. In some cases, high speed connectionsmay be over-the-air (OTA), passed through networked systems, directlyconnected to one or more WANs 201 or directed through one or morerouters 202. Router(s) 202 are completely optional and other embodimentsin accordance with the present disclosure may or may not utilize one ormore routers 202. One of ordinary skill in the art would appreciate thatthere are numerous ways server 203 may connect to WAN 201 for theexchange of information, and embodiments of the present disclosure arecontemplated for use with any method for connecting to networks for thepurpose of exchanging information. Further, while this applicationrefers to high speed connections, embodiments of the present disclosuremay be utilized with connections of any speed.

Components or modules of the system may connect to server 203 via WAN201 or other network in numerous ways. For instance, a component ormodule may connect to the system i) through a computing device 212directly connected to the WAN 201, ii) through a computing device 205,206 connected to the WAN 201 through a routing device 204, iii) througha computing device 208, 209, 210 connected to a wireless access point207 or iv) through a computing device 211 via a wireless connection(e.g., CDMA, GMS, 3G, 4G) to the WAN 201. One of ordinary skill in theart will appreciate that there are numerous ways that a component ormodule may connect to server 203 via WAN 201 or other network, andembodiments of the present disclosure are contemplated for use with anymethod for connecting to server 203 via WAN 201 or other network.Furthermore, server 203 could be comprised of a personal computingdevice, such as a smartphone, acting as a host for other computingdevices to connect to.

The communications means of the system may be any means forcommunicating data, including image and video, over one or more networksor to one or more peripheral devices attached to the system, or to asystem module or component. Appropriate communications means mayinclude, but are not limited to, wireless connections, wiredconnections, cellular connections, data port connections, Bluetooth®connections, near field communications (NFC) connections, or anycombination thereof. One of ordinary skill in the art will appreciatethat there are numerous communications means that may be utilized withembodiments of the present disclosure, and embodiments of the presentdisclosure are contemplated for use with any communications means.

Traditionally, a computer program includes a finite sequence ofcomputational instructions or program instructions. It will beappreciated that a programmable apparatus or computing device canreceive such a computer program and, by processing the computationalinstructions thereof, produce a technical effect.

A programmable apparatus or computing device includes one or moremicroprocessors, microcontrollers, embedded microcontrollers,programmable digital signal processors, programmable devices,programmable gate arrays, programmable array logic, memory devices,application specific integrated circuits, or the like, which can besuitably employed or configured to process computer programinstructions, execute computer logic, store computer data, and so on.Throughout this disclosure and elsewhere a computing device can includeany and all suitable combinations of at least one general purposecomputer, special-purpose computer, programmable data processingapparatus, processor, processor architecture, and so on. It will beunderstood that a computing device can include a computer-readablestorage medium and that this medium may be internal or external,removable and replaceable, or fixed. It will also be understood that acomputing device can include a Basic Input/Output System (BIOS),firmware, an operating system, a database, or the like that can include,interface with, or support the software and hardware described herein.

Embodiments of the system as described herein are not limited toapplications involving conventional computer programs or programmableapparatuses that run them. It is contemplated, for example, thatembodiments of the disclosure as claimed herein could include an opticalcomputer, quantum computer, analog computer, or the like.

Regardless of the type of computer program or computing device involved,a computer program can be loaded onto a computing device to produce aparticular machine that can perform any and all of the depictedfunctions. This particular machine (or networked configuration thereof)provides a technique for carrying out any and all of the depictedfunctions.

Any combination of one or more computer readable medium(s) may beutilized. The computer readable medium may be a computer readable signalmedium or a computer readable storage medium. A computer readablestorage medium may be, for example, but not limited to, an electronic,magnetic, optical, electromagnetic, infrared, or semiconductor system,apparatus, or device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing.Illustrative examples of the computer readable storage medium mayinclude the following: an electrical connection having one or morewires, a portable computer diskette, a hard disk, a random access memory(RAM), a read-only memory (ROM), an erasable programmable read-onlymemory (EPROM or Flash memory), an optical fiber, a portable compactdisc read-only memory (CD-ROM), an optical storage device, a magneticstorage device, or any suitable combination of the foregoing. In thecontext of this document, a computer readable storage medium may be anytangible medium that can contain, or store a program for use by or inconnection with an instruction execution system, apparatus, or device.

A data store may be comprised of one or more of a database, file storagesystem, relational data storage system or any other data system orstructure configured to store data. The data store may be a relationaldatabase, working in conjunction with a relational database managementsystem (RDBMS) for receiving, processing and storing data. A data storemay comprise one or more databases for storing information related tothe processing of moving information and estimate information as wellone or more databases configured for storage and retrieval of movinginformation and estimate information.

Computer program instructions can be stored in a computer-readablememory capable of directing a computer or other programmable dataprocessing apparatus to function in a particular manner. Theinstructions stored in the computer-readable memory constitute anarticle of manufacture including computer-readable instructions forimplementing any and all of the depicted functions.

A computer readable signal medium may include a propagated data signalwith computer readable program code embodied therein, for example, inbaseband or as part of a carrier wave. Such a propagated signal may takeany of a variety of forms, including, but not limited to,electro-magnetic, optical, or any suitable combination thereof. Acomputer readable signal medium may be any computer readable medium thatis not a computer readable storage medium and that can communicate,propagate, or transport a program for use by or in connection with aninstruction execution system, apparatus, or device.

Program code embodied on a computer readable medium may be transmittedusing any appropriate medium, including but not limited to wireless,wireline, optical fiber cable, RF, etc., or any suitable combination ofthe foregoing.

The elements depicted in flowchart illustrations and block diagramsthroughout the figures imply logical boundaries between the elements.However, according to software or hardware engineering practices, thedepicted elements and the functions thereof may be implemented as partsof a monolithic software structure, as standalone software components ormodules, or as components or modules that employ external routines,code, services, and so forth, or any combination of these. All suchimplementations are within the scope of the present disclosure. In viewof the foregoing, it will be appreciated that elements of the blockdiagrams and flowchart illustrations support combinations of means forperforming the specified functions, combinations of steps for performingthe specified functions, program instruction technique for performingthe specified functions, and so on.

It will be appreciated that computer program instructions may includecomputer executable code. A variety of languages for expressing computerprogram instructions are possible, including without limitation C, C++,Java, JavaScript, assembly language, Lisp, HTML, Perl, and so on. Suchlanguages may include assembly languages, hardware descriptionlanguages, database programming languages, functional programminglanguages, imperative programming languages, and so on. In someembodiments, computer program instructions can be stored, compiled, orinterpreted to run on a computing device, a programmable data processingapparatus, a heterogeneous combination of processors or processorarchitectures, and so on. Without limitation, embodiments of the systemas described herein can take the form of web-based computer software,which includes client/server software, software-as-a-service,peer-to-peer software, or the like.

In some embodiments, a computing device enables execution of computerprogram instructions including multiple programs or threads. Themultiple programs or threads may be processed more or lesssimultaneously to enhance utilization of the processor and to facilitatesubstantially simultaneous functions. By way of implementation, any andall methods, program codes, program instructions, and the like describedherein may be implemented in one or more thread. The thread can spawnother threads, which can themselves have assigned priorities associatedwith them. In some embodiments, a computing device can process thesethreads based on priority or any other order based on instructionsprovided in the program code.

Unless explicitly stated or otherwise clear from the context, the verbs“process” and “execute” are used interchangeably to indicate execute,process, interpret, compile, assemble, link, load, any and allcombinations of the foregoing, or the like. Therefore, embodiments thatprocess computer program instructions, computer-executable code, or thelike can suitably act upon the instructions or code in any and all ofthe ways just described.

The functions and operations presented herein are not inherently relatedto any particular computing device or other apparatus. Variousgeneral-purpose systems may also be used with programs in accordancewith the teachings herein, or it may prove convenient to construct morespecialized apparatus to perform the required method steps. The requiredstructure for a variety of these systems will be apparent to those ofordinary skill in the art, along with equivalent variations. Inaddition, embodiments of the disclosure are not described with referenceto any particular programming language. It is appreciated that a varietyof programming languages may be used to implement the present teachingsas described herein, and any references to specific languages areprovided for disclosure of enablement and best mode of embodiments ofthe disclosure. Embodiments of the disclosure are well suited to a widevariety of computer network systems over numerous topologies. Withinthis field, the configuration and management of large networks includestorage devices and computing devices that are communicatively coupledto dissimilar computing and storage devices over a network, such as theInternet, also referred to as “web” or “world wide web”.

Throughout this disclosure and elsewhere, block diagrams and flowchartillustrations depict methods, apparatuses (e.g., systems), and computerprogram products. Each element of the block diagrams and flowchartillustrations, as well as each respective combination of elements in theblock diagrams and flowchart illustrations, illustrates a function ofthe methods, apparatuses, and computer program products. Any and allsuch functions (“depicted functions”) can be implemented by computerprogram instructions; by special-purpose, hardware-based computersystems; by combinations of special purpose hardware and computerinstructions; by combinations of general purpose hardware and computerinstructions; and so on—any and all of which may be generally referredto herein as a “component”, “module,” or “system.”

While the foregoing drawings and description set forth functionalaspects of the disclosed systems, no particular arrangement of softwarefor implementing these functional aspects should be inferred from thesedescriptions unless explicitly stated or otherwise clear from thecontext.

Each element in flowchart illustrations may depict a step, or group ofsteps, of a computer-implemented method. Further, each step may containone or more sub-steps. For the purpose of illustration, these steps (aswell as any and all other steps identified and described above) arepresented in order. It will be understood that an embodiment can containan alternate order of the steps adapted to a particular application of atechnique disclosed herein. All such variations and modifications areintended to fall within the scope of this disclosure. The depiction anddescription of steps in any particular order is not intended to excludeembodiments having the steps in a different order, unless required by aparticular application, explicitly stated, or otherwise clear from thecontext.

The functions, systems and methods herein described could be utilizedand presented in a multitude of languages. Individual systems may bepresented in one or more languages and the language may be changed withease at any point in the process or methods described above. One ofordinary skill in the art would appreciate that there are numerouslanguages the system could be provided in, and embodiments of thepresent disclosure are contemplated for use with any language.

It should be noted that the features illustrated in the drawings are notnecessarily drawn to scale, and features of one embodiment may beemployed with other embodiments as the skilled artisan would recognize,even if not explicitly stated herein. Descriptions of well-knowncomponents and processing techniques may be omitted so as to notunnecessarily obscure the embodiments.

It will be apparent to those skilled in the art that variousmodifications and variations can be made to the disclosed apparatus,system, and method. Other embodiments will be apparent to those skilledin the art from consideration of the specification and practice of thedisclosed method and apparatus. It is intended that the specificationand examples be considered as exemplary only, with a true scope beingindicated by the following claims.

1. An assembly for sensing corrosion of a member, comprising: a housinghaving a bottom surface that is external-surface-disposable on themember; and a sensor array disposed at least partially in the housing,the sensor array including a first sensor and a second sensor; whereinthe first sensor and the second sensor are magnetoresistive sensors;wherein the first sensor is disposed at up to 3 centimeters from thebottom surface of the housing; and wherein the second sensor is disposedat between 1 inch and 8 inches from the bottom surface of the housing.2. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the first sensor and the secondsensor are each selected from the group consisting of an anisotropicmagnetoresistive sensor and a giant magnetoresistive sensor.
 3. Theassembly of claim 1, wherein a bottom surface of the first sensor isdisposed at zero and 3 centimeters from the bottom surface of thehousing.
 4. The assembly of claim 1, wherein a bottom surface of thefirst sensor is disposed at 3 centimeters from the bottom surface of thehousing.
 5. The assembly of claim 1, wherein a bottom surface of thesecond sensor is disposed at between 1 inch and 8 5 inches from thebottom surface of the housing.
 6. The assembly of claim 1, wherein abottom surface of the second sensor is disposed at between 1 inch and 2inches from the bottom surface of the housing.
 7. The assembly of claim1, wherein the second sensor is disposed at 1 inch from the bottomsurface of the housing.
 8. The assembly of claim 1, wherein a bottomsurface of the second sensor is disposed at 1 inch from the bottomsurface of the housing.
 9. The assembly of claim 1, wherein the assemblyis a pipeline monitoring assembly configured to be externally attachedto a pipeline.
 10. The assembly of claim 9, wherein the pipelinemonitoring assembly is a natural gas monitoring assembly.
 11. A methodfor non-intrusively sensing corrosion of a member, comprising: disposinga first sensor at a first distance from an exterior surface portion ofthe member; and disposing a second sensor at a second distance from theexterior surface portion of the member; wherein the first sensor and thesecond sensor are magnetoresistive sensors; wherein the first distanceis between zero centimeters and 3 centimeters; and wherein the seconddistance is between 1 inch and 5 inches.
 12. The method of claim 11,wherein the member is a pipeline member including a passage.
 13. Themethod of claim 11, wherein the member is selected from the groupconsisting of a natural gas pipeline member, a water pipeline member, anoil pipeline member, and a chemical pipeline member.
 14. The method ofclaim 11, wherein the first sensor and the second sensor are eachselected from the group consisting of an anisotropic magnetoresistivemagnetic sensor and a giant magnetoresistive sensor.
 15. The method ofclaim 11, wherein a bottom surface of the first sensor is disposed at 3centimeters from an exterior surface of the member.
 16. The method ofclaim 11, wherein a bottom surface of the second sensor is disposed at 1inch from an exterior surface of the member.
 17. An assembly for sensingcorrosion of a pipeline member, comprising: a housing having a bottomsurface that is external-surface-disposable on the pipeline member; anda corrosion sensor array disposed at least partially in the housing, thecorrosion sensor array including a first corrosion sensor and a secondcorrosion sensor; wherein the first corrosion sensor and the secondcorrosion sensor are magnetoresistive sensors; wherein a bottom surfaceof the first corrosion sensor is disposed at 3 centimeters from thebottom surface of the housing; and wherein a bottom surface of thesecond corrosion sensor is disposed at 1 inch from the bottom surface ofthe housing.
 18. The assembly of claim 17, wherein the first corrosionsensor and the second corrosion sensor are each selected from the groupconsisting of an anisotropic magnetoresistive sensor and a giantmagnetoresistive sensor.
 19. The assembly of claim 17, wherein thepipeline member is selected from the group consisting of a natural gaspipeline member, a water pipeline member, an oil pipeline member, and achemical pipeline member.
 20. (canceled)